Mixer



June 15, 1926; 1,588,901 O. E. MERRELL W/T ss June 15 1926-. Y 1,588,901 o. E. MERRELL MIXER Filed Jan. '5, 1925 3 Sheets-Sheetz llt) Patented June 15, 1926.

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@LH/"IEB, EDVARD MERRELL, S'ZBACUSE, NEVI YORK, ASSGNR T0 MERRELL- SOULE COMEANY, OF SYRLCUSE, NEW' YORK, A CORPOEATEGN 0F NEW YORK.

MIXER.

Application filed January 3, 1825.

This invention relates to a new mixer, and .more especially to a miner designed for dissolving or re-liquefying powdered milk in water with or without added material,such as sugar, salt, malt, shortening, etc. used in ii'iaking a dough batch.

ln order to dissolve large quantities of milk powder in water, either a very long time, or else very violent action is necessary in order to break up the lumps of powder, and to bring all the particles of the milk into actual contact with the water.

-leretofore attempts have been made to dissolve large quantities of milk powder in water by the use of a single beater in a large tank, and trouble has been commonly experienced from the fact that certain parts of the tank were so far from the beater that they were not subject to violent beating action. In many cases, the contents of the tank at a distance from the beater was so ittle influenced by the action of the beater that lumps of milk powder Would remain in these distant parts, and conside able time would elapse before they would be drawn into the beater and broken up. p

Further, in order to emulsify shortening or fat with any liquid containing an emulsifying agent, such as milk, difficulty arises from the fact that the shortening tends to remain on the surface ofthe liquid, and itis only 'with difficulty that it is all brought within the sphere of action of a beater located near the 'bottom of the tank. Violent action is essential in order to break up the fat and secure a. suspension of the fat globules through the liquid, thereby producing a partial emulsion.

`he mixer of this invention is especially adapted to handling these difficulties for the reason that all of the material to be mixed is necessarily and repeatedly drawn through he beater, and thereby subjected to the violent action essential to effect the desired result, and no difficulty is experienced from fat floating on the surface, and thereby failing to be acted on by the beater. Other advantages of this invention resine in the details of the structure ofthe mixer all as will more fully appear from the following description taken in connection Serial No. 361.

ure 1.

Figure 3 is a section on line 3 3, Fig ure 2.

The apparatus, as shown, is in the nature of-a two-tank structure supported upon any suitable framework, as for instance, that illustrated, which comprises in this instance four (t) uprights 1 constituting` corner posts of the structure, these uprights being connected near the bottom by longitudinal side rails 2 and an end rail 3 The structure is open at one end, the adjacent posts being unconnected by end rails. Upper side rails 4tare provided for connecting` the posts near their upper ends. For the purpose of carrying the driving motors 5 and 6 a, super-structure is previded above the side-rails lt The two rear posts 1 entend above the side-rails lt as indicated, and are connected by end rails 7 and 8 and intermediate the length of the side rails lt the posts Q are positioned, secured to the side rails and projecting upwardly a distance substantially equal to the extension of the rear posts 1 above the side rails, and this superlstructureV is braced by means of the braces 10 connected to the side-rails and to the superstructure.`

The posts 9 are connected by end or cross-rails 11 and 12 to which the motor (5 is secured, and the motor 5` is secured to the end rails 7 and 8 The upper ends of the posts Q may be `connected to the respective upward eXtensions of the rear posts 1 by longitudinal bars 13 and M respectively. rlhe structure so far described is one here provided for supporting a two-tank struct-ure about to be described, and the driving motors 5 and 6 The apparatus further consists of a primary tank or hopper 15 which tapers downwardly, and is of somewhat frusto-conical form, terminating at its lower end in a substantially cylindrical portion 16 having an openingin its bottom of a size adapted to receive the beater or agitator 17 The secondary tank -18- is as illustrated considerably larger than the tank 15 and may be of substantially cylindrical form with its bottom wall inclined downwardly and forwardly, and resting upon a cross-bar 19H supported substantially centrally of the side rails -2-.

These side rails and the crossbar, as well as the upper side rails -4 are formed of channel bars, and are of substantially U-shaped form in cross-section, while the corner posts -1- are, as illustrated, formed of angle bars, and the side rails M2 are secured to their respective posts in a manner to incline downwardly and forwardly to conform substantially with the inclination of the bottom wall of the secondary tank 18 Preferably both the tank 15 and the tank -18 are reinforced at their upper ends, as by bands 20- and Q1- respectively, and the angle clips may be secured to the tank -15- and band -QO- for attachment to the side rails 4- as by riveting, bolting, or other suitable well known means, and in like manner the tank -18- is equipped with angle clips 523- secured to the tank and the band -21-- in any suitable manner, for attachment to the side rails -4- to firmly support the tank in position upon the framework.

The agitator 1T-- is mounted upon the shaft M24- which may be the armature shaft or an extension of the armature shaft of the motor -6-, and the agitator here shown is peculiarly adapted for installation in the apparatus of this invention in that its intake is vertical and axial, while its discharge is lateral and radial. ln structure, the beater -1T is the upper half of the heater described and claimed in U. S. Letters-Patent No. 1,375,406, dated April 19, 1.921, and consists of a plate' or journal portion --2.- for the shaft 21st-3 having upstanding vanes --26-- preferably tapering upwardly, and lying in cords of the circular plate m25- so as to draw the material to be mixed downwardly through the ring -27- spaced from and surrounding the shaft -2l-, and secured to the upper ends of the vanes or blades -26-.

The ring -27-is of a diameter slightly less than the opening in the bottom of the primary tank -15-, and substantially lills the opening so that all material passing from the tank 15- must pass down in the ring` e-27 and is thrown outwardly and laterally by the Yanes 26- into the elbow-shaped pipe -28- secured to the bottom walls of the tanks 15- and -18i, and disposed beneath the opening -29`- in the tank 15- and the opening e30* in the tank -'-13- so as 'to constitute a means of communication between the tanks so that material passing through the beater is forced upwardly into tanks -18-, and for the purpose of effecting a continuous circulation between ythe tank 15- and the tank -18-, the wall of the tank -18- is split and the adjacent edges overlap and are spaced apart to forni a Vertical slot or passageway -31- leading from the tank 18-.

lt'his slot may extend throughout all or any portion of the height of the tank -18- and as shown, the over-lapping edges are spaced apart and secured together by spacing members -39f-- rlthis slot leading from the tank 18- opens directly into the primary tank 15A- and this arrangement is effected by having the portion of the wall of the tank "1S-- in which the slot -31- is formed constitute also a portion of the wall of the tank -e15-, and as here shown, the wall of tank -l5- is incomplete and the opposite vertical edges -33- and 34rof the Wall of tank -15- abut against and are secured to the wall of the tank -18- upon opposite sides of the Vertical slot S0- rlie joint formed between the walls of the two tanks is liquid-tight.

rlhe motor -5- has its armature shaft, or an extension of its armature shaft equipped with a beater -35- of the construction shown in Letters-Patent above referred to, and this beater draws in the material to be mixed axially, both in an upward direction and a downward direction, and throws it ont laterally and radially. rl`he beate-r is disposed eccentrically of the tank -18- so as to avoid a mere continuous symn'ietrical rotary movement of the fluid around the tank.

In the opeation of this structure, the materia to be mixed, such as water and mil `-powder, with or without added materi als, is placed in the primary tank -15-. Preferably7 the water is placed in the tank first, and the milk powder and other materials may then be dumped into the tank. llfhere fat or shortening is used which is solid, at room temperature, it is preferable to heat the water, and then place the fat in the vater so that it ill thereby be reduced to liquid form.

ln View of the fact that the beater *Q41- draws the material axially, it is essential that all of the material placed in tank 15 should pass downwardly within ring 27 of the heater, through the beater, by which it is then forced upwardly into the bottom of the tank -18- where it is agitated and mixed by the beater -35- and continually returns to the tank -15- through the vertical slot- --31 where it is again Idrawn through the beater -17- and thoroughly mixed, `z tgitated and broken up.

This operation insures lrepeated subjection of all the material to the forceful action oit the beater' -l7, and all orn the materialv repeatedly passes through the beater 17- and by it is forced into the tank 18 where additional agitation and Yforceful mixing is eifected by the beater S5- Continuous circulation vot the mix is assured by reason of the fact that the level of the mix or liquid in tank -l5 is always considerably lower than the level of the liquid in tank -18- and this for the reason that the beater is continually drawing the liquid or mix from tank -l5 and 'torcing it into the tank 18, and this difference in level not only insures regular circulation, but as a result of regular circulation, repeated subjection of the mix or liquid to the action oi' the beater. 'Ihe pipe 2S- may, as shown, be equipped at its forward end with a gate of any usual and well known construction which permits withdrawal of the mix from the apparatus.

Altho I have shown and described a specific construction as illustrative ot a perhaps preferred embodiment of my invention, I do not desire to restrict myself to the details of the structure, or to the method of operation, as various changes may be made within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

l. In a mixer, a primary tank and a secondary tank having a portion of their walls in common, such common wall having an opening constituting a means of communication between the tanks, additional meanswof communication between the bottom portions of the tanks, a beater in said additional means ot' communication., said beater being of a size substantially equal to the cross-sectional area of such additional means of communication, whereby substantially all the material flowing through saidv additional means of communication must pass through the beater.

2. In a mixer, a primary tank and a secondary tank having a portion or' their walls in common, such common wall having an opening constituting a means of communication between the tanks, additional means ot communication between the bottom portions of the tanks, a beater in said additional means of communication, said beater being of a size substantially equal to the cross-sectional area of such additional means of communication, whereby substantially all the material flowing through said additional means of communication must pass through the beater and a second beater in said secondary tank.

3. In a mixer, a primary tank and a secondary tank having a portion o1E their walls in common, such common wall having an opening constituting a means of communication between the tanks, additional means of communication between the bottom portions ot the tanks, a beater in said additional means of communication, and a second beater in said secondary tank.

a. In a mixer, a primary tank and a secondary tank, means of communication between the tanks, and a beater having an inlet and a radial outlet i'or maintaining a tor-ced flow of material to be mixed through such means of communication.

5. In a mixer, a prin'iary tank and a secondary tank, means of communication between the tanks, a beater having an axial inlet and a radial outlet tor maintaining a forced rlow of material to be mixed through such means ot communication, and asecond beater arranged in and eccentrically or" the secondary tank.

6. In a mixer, a primary tank Vand a secondary tank, means o1l communication between the tanks, a beater having an axial inlet anda radial 'outlet `for maintaining a forced flow `of material to be mixed through such Vmeans ot communication, a second beater arranged in and eccentricaily o1"- the secondary tank, and additional means of communication between the tanks whereby a circulation 'ot the material may be'maintained.

7. In a mixer, a downwardly tapered primary tank having an opening in its bottoni wall, a secondary tank having a downwardly and forwardly inclined bottom provided with an opening, a'conduit connecting said openings, and a beater arranged in the opening in the primary tank, and of a size substantially equal to the size ot said opening for maintaining a forced circulation of the material to be mixed.

S. In a mixer, a downwardly tapered pri-- mary tank having an opening in its bottom wall, a secondary tank having a downwardly and forwardly inclined bottom provi-ded with an opening, a conduit connecting said openings, and having an axial inlet and a lateral outlet for maintaining a forced circulation through said conduit and additional means of communication between the tanks permitting flow from the secondary tank to the primaryV tank.

9. A mixing apparatus comprising a hopper for receiving material to be mixed and having an opening at its lower end, a mixing tank arranged adjacent the hopper, means oit communication between the lower end o the hopper through said opening and the mixing tank, an agitator in such communication and arranged to draw the mate- `rials from the hopper and force them into the mixing tank, and a second agitator in the mixing tank.

10. A. mixing apparatus comprising a hopper for receiving material to be mixed and having an opening at its lower end, a mixing tank arranged adjacent the hopper, means ot communication between the lower end of the hopper through said opening and the mixing tank, an agitator in such communication and arranged to draw the materials .trom the hopper and force them into the mixing tank, a second agitator' in the mixing tank and arranged within the tank in an eccentric position.

ll. A mixing apparatus comprising a hopper for receiving material to be mixed and having an opening at its lower end, a mixing tank arranged adjacent the hopper, means otI communication between the lower end ot the hopper through said opening and the mixing tank, an agitator in such conn municatien and arranged to draw the inaterials from the hopper and torce them into the mixing tank, a second agitator in the mixing tank and additional means of communication between the hopper and the tank through the side wall o1n the hopper.

l2. A mixing apparatus comprising a hopper Yfor receiving material to be mixed and having an opening at its lower end, a mixing tank arranged adjacent the hopper, moans ot' communication between the lower end oit' the hopper through said opening and the mixing tank, an agitator in such communication and arranged to draw the materials from the hopper and torce them into the mixing tank, a second agitator in the mixing tank and arranged within the tank in an eccentric position, and additional means of communication between the hopper and the tank through the side wall ot the hopper.

i3. A mixing apparatus comprising a hopper for receiving material to be mixed and haring an outlet in its lower portion, a mixing tank adjacent the hopper, means ot communication between the opening in the lower portion of the hopper and the lower portion ot the said mixing tank, an agitator disposed in such means of eonnnunication and through which substantialliy all ot' the said materials must pass in moring from the hopper to the tank, a rotar),v agitator eccentrically positioned in the mixing tank, means for rotating` said agitator about a substantially Vertical axis, and additional means of communication between the tank and the hopper.

si. A mixing apparatus con'iprising a hopper tor receiving material to be mixed and having an outlet in its lower portion, a mixing tank adjacent the hopper, means of' communication between the opening in the lower portion ot' the hopper and the lower portion ot the said mixing tank, an agitator disposed in such means of communication and through which substantially all ot the said materials must pass invn'ioving Afrom the hon 3er to the tank a rotarT agitator eccentricall;T positioned in the mixing tank, means tor rotating said agitator about a substantially Vertical axis, and additional means of communication between the tank and the hopper opening tangentiall \Y through the wall of the hopper.

in witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 30th da;7 ot December, 192i.

OLlVER EDTNARD MERRELL. 

